GLEP: 40
Title: Standardizing "arch" keywording across all archs.
Version: $Revision: 1.1 $
Last-Modified: $Date: 2005/09/09 03:06:28 $
Author: Grant Goodyear
Status: Draft
Type: Standards Track
Content-Type: text/x-rst
Created: 3-Sep-2005
Post-History: 6-Sep-2005
Credits
=======
This GLEP originated from a rather contentious discussion_ on gentoo-dev
about combining the x86 and amd64 keywords. This GLEP attempts to get at the
heart of that discontent. The proposed stable-keyword guidelines have been
lifted verbatim from `The Doc`_.
.. _discussion: http://tinyurl.com/bp859
.. _The Doc: http://dev.gentoo.org/~plasmaroo/devmanual
Abstract
========
It is time for x86 to no longer be an exception to the standard
keywording guidelines. Thus, an x86 arch team should be responsible
for moving packages from ~x86 to x86.
Motivation
==========
The original, informal x86 keywording policy, where almost any x86 dev (which
were the vast majority of devs) who used a package could mark it stable, arose
from a time when there were relatively few Gentoo devs. Adding packages to
the tree was the principal concern, as opposed to maintaining existing
packages. QA considerations have since modified that policy slightly, and now
it is the package maintainers who should mark an x86 package stable. Of
course, that policy presumes that package maintainers are generally x86 devs,
which is slowly becoming less and less true.
This policy for x86 is quite different from how every other arch marks
packages stable. For the non-x86 archs, each arch has a specific "arch team"
which is responsible for moving packages from ``~arch`` to ``arch``, although
vapier notes that "arch teams generally defer to maintainers (and rightly so)
as to *when* newer versions should go stable." This approach has worked quite
well for the non-x86 archs, and this GLEP asserts that the same approach would
benefit x86 as well.
Specification
=============
Stabling guidelines for all archs
---------------------------------
For a package to move to stable, the following guidelines must be met:
* The package has spent a reasonable amount of time in ``~arch`` first.
Thirty days is the usual figure, although this is clearly only a guideline.
For critical packages, a much longer duration is expected. For small
packages which have only minor changes between versions, a shorter period
is sometimes appropriate.
* The package must not have any non-``arch`` dependencies.
* The package must not have any severe outstanding bugs or issues.
* The package must be widely tested.
* If the package is a library, it should be known not to break any package
which depends upon it.
* The relevant ``arch`` team must agree to it.
x86 arch team
-------------
A robust x86 arch team needs to be created. The x86@gentoo.org alias already
exists, and it merely needs to be used. This team, with the aid of potential
non-dev ``arch testers``, has the responsibility of stabling all x86 packages.
Current x86 devs who wish to mark their own packages stable must therefore
either be members of or make individual arrangements with the x86 arch team.
Rationale
=========
There will be a considerable one-time cost involved in establishing a robust
x86 arch team--a good number of bodies (the amd64 atch team has 19 active devs
and 12 active non-dev arch testers) need to be recruited to be part of the
new arch team, and convincing devs that it is in their best interests to work
in a new fashion is likely to be even harder. Certainly the benefit of
consistency between the various archs is obvious, but is it worth the cost
involved? Here are the arguments for enduring the pain involved:
* Over time, x86 is likely to become a minority arch as 64-bit systems
become the norm. The implicit assumptions that underly the current
system (that most devs, users, and package maintainers use x86)
will become increasingly less valid.
* Markedly improved QA for x86. Assuming that the author's own is
behavior is representative, most x86 devs run ``~x86`` systems.
Thus, the assumption that devs are good ``x86`` testers is not really
valid. One obvious consequence is that packages tend to languish in
``~x86`` for a very long time, since x86 devs running ``~x86`` have little
cause to notice that a package has not been marked stable. The much larger
effect, though, is that it is rare for ``x86`` packages to be stabled in
the context of a full ``x86`` tree, so the big picture of a stable
*system*, not just a stable package, is lost. This approach of stabling
in the context of a full stable ``arch`` tree, it has been argued_, is
the fundamental reason why the non-x86 archs have notably better QA
than does the x86 arch.
.. _argued: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.devel/30369
Implementation
==============
Creation of a robust x86 team is already underway. The more vital step
is the official change in policy, along with a sustained effort to get
existing x86 devs to go along with it.
Alternative Ideas
=================
Stuart_ has suggested the creation of a new arch keyword: "[-]maint", which
would exist in tandem with the normal arch keywords, thereby making the
package maintainer's intention explicit. Ciaranm has responded that by
definition a package in ``~arch`` is a candidate for ``arch``, so a package's
mere presence in the tree (without being in ``package.mask``) should indicate
the package maintainer's intention. There was a fair bit of discussion about
whether the idea should be a "maint" keyword, or named something else, or an
entirely different variable, etcetera, but the basic gist didn't change much.
Jstubbs notes that it could be a very good idea if all non-arch devs worked in
overlays, but that new portage (gensync) support would be needed to make it
truly viable. Stuart pointed out that php5 support was handled just that way.
One author's view is that this approach would make the "package in ``~arch``
means that it's a de-facto candidate for ``arch``" interpretation even more
valid.
Ciaranm and weeve have noted that it is occasionally necessary for arch teams
to override a package maintainer when it comes to stabling a package. Stuart
has asserted that in those cases the arch team should be willing to take on
the support burden for that package.
.. _Stuart: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.devel/31060
Backwards Compatibility
=======================
Not really an issue here.
Copyright
=========
This document has been placed in the public domain.